“It’s tough in Jones County, period,” Davis said. “Jones County is a rural county and probably one of the fastest shrinking counties in North Carolina. We are not getting a lot of people in here because there are not a lot of housing developments here. Whenever we lose a kid, it’s tough to get another kid to replace them.”

Twichell agreed that it’s difficult to rebuild at a 1-A school. Pamlico has won just two games since its 6-5 season in 2010.

“That’s 1-A football,” he said. “You have grades where you have a lot of good athletes, or you could have two or three good athletes. The 3-A and 4-A schools, they can weather that storm a little more than a 1-A school can.

“You will see a team make a run for two or three years, then they will have a down year. We have two seniors and Jones doesn’t have that many either. It’s tough because you are lacking numbers.”

Jones Senior has won the last six meetings over Pamlico. The Hurricanes’ last victory over the Trojans was a 23-14 win in 2005.

Jones Senior beat Pamlico, 42-0, last season.

“It’s been a rivalry, a fun 1-A rivalry. It’s been lopsided. In the early 2000s, we dominated the rivalry.

“The past five of six years, they’ve dominated. It’s a school that’s close to us that is very comparable, and that makes it a good rivalry.”

Pamlico suffered a 36-14 defeat to Lejeune last week. Quarterback NaQuan Gibbs ran for 102 yards and scored two touchdowns.

Running back Jamal Coffee has added a punch out of the backfield. He caught three passes for 41 yards against Lejeune.

“They are going to be the difference on offense,” Twichell said. “If the offensive line plays well, those two guys should have a good night. They are our playmakers.”

Pamlico’s offense is putting up 12.3 points per game, while the defense is yielding 27.9 points.

Davis said the Trojans will rotate three quarterbacks against Pamlico — Warren Fields, Glen White and DeWanye Bryant.

Fields scored on a 54-yard run and threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Carlos Irving in last week’s 27-13 loss to Dixon.

Friday is Senior Night for Jones Senior. Darvoris Batts, who is out for the year with an injury, Miguel Foy, Marques Bryant, Craig Cobb, Will Price and Parrish Bryant will be recognized.

Advertising

News

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
New Bern Sun Journal ~ 3200 Wellons Blvd., New Bern, NC 28562 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service